Who replaces Michael Carrick for Manchester United?

The chart below maps the player usage trends of David Moyes at Manchester United. It’s hardly revelationary, but it is interesting to get to grips with his concept of “squad rotation” (especially considering it’s impossible not to hear how rarely he was afforded that chance at Everton).

If one certainty has emerged from this week, it is that this pattern will change, with Michael Carrick ruled out for up to six weeks with an Achilles injury. As you can see below, it is likley his minutes will be divided between Ryan Giggs, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini (because let’s not talk about Anderson … please).

Interesting trends include the deployment of Jones, Smalling, Evra and Rafael as prominent defenders during the club’s recent nine-game unbeaten streak, as well as a forward reliance on Wayne Rooney and (recently) … Shinji Kagawa.

Key: X = started match, I = made substitute appearance, 0 = unused substitute. Blank spaces = player left out of the matchday squad.

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